Top 10 Best DSLR Shoulder Rigs 2017

Shoulder rigs are one of the most practical and affordable ways to drastically increase the quality of one’s footage. They offer footage comparable to that of a gimbal stabilizer (see the best gimbals here), but at significantly cheaper prices and with less technical issues like battery life and finnicky, complex motor systems.

In this list, there are several kinds of shoulder rigs: one-armed, two-armed, and shoulder rig kits. Each has advantages and disadvantages, but in general, most people will find the most (and easiest) success with a two-armed rig. Still, there are plenty of use cases where a one-armed rig can be great, especially if you’re more patient about learning the process. No matter what you choose, a shoulder rig is a great way to help take your films to new heights. They add stabilization and a professional sheen, even for an inexperienced user.

Here’s the 10 best shoulder rigs from lowest to highest price.

1. ePhotoInc Shoulder Rig

If you’re looking for a simple yet reasonably effective rig, this ePhotoInc Shoulder Rig is great for small cameras and basic configurations. One great perk is that it’s lightweight due to its simple construction. This product uses standard tripod screws, meaning it’s straightforward to attach a good variety of accessories. It’s the not the most comfortable or robust solution, but if you need a quick and affordable fix, it’ll get the job done.

Price: $37.50

Buy the ePhotoInc Shoulder Rig here.

Pros:

Easy-to-use and setup

Smaller than more capable rigs

Can be used as a cage and shoulder rig

Easy to connect to other accessories as it has standard tripod screws

Cons:

Not all that comfortable

A bit on the clunky side

Could be more durable/li>

Find more ePhotoInc Shoulder Rig information and reviews here.

2. Neewer Portable FilmMaker System

This lightweight Neewer rig works with 1/4″ screws and is a great start kit for people with small to medium DSLRs. It distributes weight effortlessly and easily with its sliding rail system, which also doubles as a slider rig. The one drawback here which is pretty minor is that the rig works much better when used with a counterweight. This adds some labor, but can be obtained for about $5.00 if you’re using a bunch of washers, for instance. For many, this rig offers more than enough value and features at a great price point.

Price: $69.99

Buy the Neewer Portable FilmMaker System here.

Pros:

Works with 1/4″ screws

Lightweight for long shoots, distributes weight easily

Solid for a beginner rig

Build quality is great

Can’t be beat for the price

Cons:

May require adding a counterweight (about $5.00)

Transporting is annoying; it’s on the bulky side

Find more Neewer Portable FilmMaker System information and reviews here.

3. Opteka CXS-1

While this rig is a bit simpler than the item above, its all-metal construction and extremely lightweight make fast movement and run-and-gun shooting even easier. This is a great rig for people who want to move fast or who want to minimize the amount of weight they’re carrying. It offers solid stabilization and is praised for its compact and portable size.

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Price: $79.97

Buy the Opteka CXS-1 here.

Pros:

Couldn’t be easier to set up

Reduces fatigue and helps with stabilization

One of the more compact stabilizers

Construction praised as solid and well-made

It’s best for small to medium cameras

Cons:

May be too light for some people

Some may find it uncomfortable

Not for everyone

Find more Opteka CXS-1 information and reviews here.

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4. Neewer Pro Rig (Editor’s Choice)

This robust rig kit includes a shoulder mount, follow focus, matte box, c-shaped bracket, and top handle meaning it can pretty much do it all. It’s ideal for people with small to medium cameras. For cameras like this, this kit is provides high-quality footage and a huge feature set. Of course, at this price, these are hardly the best accessories, but they got the job done well. This is a great beginner kit to drastically increase one’s footage quality. It’s the editor’s choice because short of buying much more expensive gear, this is the most cost-effective way to take DSLR shooting to the next level.

Price: $119.99

Buy the Neewer Pro Rig here.

Pros:

Praised as superb value for the price

Adjustable to most peoples’ size and needs

Excellent construction and workmanship

Many features for the price

Cons:

Download video Links

Rig is on the bulky side

Follow focus can be finnicky

Matte box has plastic screw grips

Find more Neewer Pro Rig information and reviews here.

5. Revo Sr-1500

For those who want a simple solution with outstanding build quality, the Revo SR-1500 offers a high-quality rig at a very reasonable price. Boasting excellent durability, a comfortable shoulder pad, and a nice offset for easily being able to see your camera’s screen, it’s an awesome rig for the price. While it’s not the lightest model around, it does have a decent weight (it’s not as light as other models at 5.2lbs), but for people who can handle it, this actually contributes to stability. As with most shoulder rigs and stabilizers, some customization tends to help; some people may feel the need to augment this with counterweights. For the money, this is a great, simple (yet effective) stabilizer.

Price: $135.96

Buy the Revo Sr-1500 here.

Pros:

Download video Links

Build quality and construction is great

Highly durable and well built

Shoulder pad said to be firm yet comfortable

Both 1/4″ and 3/8″ screws for base plate

Called an amazing rig for the price

Cons:

Counterweights needed for long periods of use (as front gets heavy)

Some people may not like the color (bright orange parts)

Find more Revo Sr-1500 information and reviews here.

6. Ikan ELE-HVRFly

For those who like one-handed rigs, this Ikan HVRfly offers top-notch quality. It is a simple but very effective rig with an outstanding build quality. This rig has comfortable padding, great durability, and shooting one-handed frees up one’s other hand to do things like adjust focus and zoom. Therefore, with some practice it can be a very robust and practical solution.

Price: $149

Buy the Ikan ELE-HVRFly here.

Pros:

Download video Links

Solid workmanship and built quality

Great for small to medium cameras

Sturdy and configurable for different use cases

Great value for solid quality

Cons:

The build can interfere with some camera’s LCD screens

One-handed use can be difficult

Not as many features as other models

Find more Ikan ELE-HVRFly information and reviews here.

7. FilmCity Shoulder Rig

For those who want many features and a highly durable, excellent build quality, this FilmCity rig is praised as offering near professional quality at a superb price. It has an attractive and sleek look with plenty of features including a quick release plate, a comfortable shoulder support pad, and a built-in counterweight. One downside is that it is a bit on the heavy side. Still, for people who want to take their shoots to the next level, this is an awesome DSLR shoulder rig with great quality on every level.

Price: $190

Buy the FilmCity Shoulder Rig here.

Pros:

Great for run and gun shoots

Praised as the best value for the price, a near professional rig

Attractive and slick look

Quick release base plate makes things move faster

Cons:

Gets heavy after long periods of use

Quick release plate can be annoying to use

No vertical adjustment of shoulder arm

Find more FilmCity Shoulder Rig information and reviews here.

8. SunRise Shoulder Rig

While it is a bit pricier than comparable models, this SunRise shoulder rig might be worth it for people looking for rock-solid durability, an anti-slip handle, and an all-metal construction. Boasting a built-in counterweight and simple build, it’s also future-proof with plenty of upgrade potential. While it doesn’t offer the most bang for the buck, it is one of the most well-built units on our list. This is a very durable, well-made unit.

Price: $228.99

Buy the SunRise Shoulder Rig here.

Pros:

All metal, high-quality construction

Needs some adjustment, but professional grade gear

Plenty of upgrade compatibility

Anti-slip comfortable handle

All-metal rig means great durability

Cons:

Find more SunRise Shoulder Rig information and reviews here.

9. Best Value Pr-1

Boasting an all-metal construction, a lightweight build, and superb workmanship, this aluminum beast makes for a rock star shoulder rig. Not only does it look great, it’s highly customizable and built to last. That said, it’s not for the faint of heart. It includes no instructions and all of that customizability (plus connectivity) means it may be confusing for some. Still, for those who are up to the challenge, this is very much a buy-it-for-life professional shoulder rig.

Price: $249.99

Buy the Best Value Pr-1 here.

Pros:

Can be rearranged for different uses

Great build quality and construction

Lightweight

Aluminum looks great and professional

Excellent connectivity options

Cons:

No instructions

Not easy to carry around assembled

Find more Best Value Pr-1 information and reviews here.

10. Ikan Ele-Ofly

Closing out our list is this Ikan Ele-Ofly. Needless to say, it offers a standard set of features including dual handles, a quick release plate, and a plenty of customizing plus adjustable screws. Beyond this, however, it is built of the highest quality metal. The shoulder pad is comfortable and built to last. It’s the top of its (relatively) budget class. While there are more expensive shoulder rigs out there, for most people, this is about as good as one could possibly need.

Price: $549

Buy the Ikan Ele-Ofly here.

Pros:

Comparable to rigs that cost over $1000

Great configuration options

All-metal construction

Lightweight yet sturdy

Everything is adjustable

Cons:

Overkill for most people

Quick release adapter may be a necessary mod; standard base plate was annoying

Find more Ikan Ele-Ofly information and reviews here.

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